Begonia plant named ‘BBERO13-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Begonia×tuberhybrida  cultivar named ‘BBERO13-0’ is disclosed, characterized by an abundance of outwardly facing, semi double rose pink flowers, bright green, glossy foliage and a short period to begin flowering. The new variety is a  Begonia,  and is normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘BBERO13-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a chance discovery. The new variety originated as a chance, whole plant mutation from the, unpatented, variety Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Karels Jomfru Rød’ The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Ola Ingvoldstad, a citizen of Norway, at a research greenhouse in Brummendal, Norway during 2008, among a planting of the parent variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ was first performed in Norway in 2009. ‘BBERO13-0’ has since produced several generations by vegetative cuttings and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBERO13-0.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBERO13-0’ as a new and distinct Begonia×tuberhybrida cultivar:

-   -   1. Abundance of semi-double rose pink flowers     -   2. Bright, glossy green foliage     -   3. Short period for plants to begin flowering     -   4. Flexible plant stems, resisting breakage.     -   5. Outwardly facing flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Karels Jomfru Rød’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ produce semi-double flowers, compared to fully double flowers. Additionally, the new variety flowers one week sooner from a rooted cutting than the parent, and produces a rose pink flower, compared to a red flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ are similar to plants of the unpatented commercial variety, Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Rose Multiflora’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ produce more flexible branches, brighter green glossier foliage and more flowers per plant. The new cultivar also has a stronger pink coloration to the flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ are similar to plants of the unpatented commercial variety, Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Chanson Pink’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘BBERO13-0’ produce more flexible branches, brighter green, glossier foliage and more flowers per plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘BBERO13-0’ grown in a greenhouse. The pot size is a commercial 10 inch basket. The plant shown is approximately 9 months old.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flowers and foliage.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BBERO13-0’ plants grown in a commercial controlled greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 28° C. during the day and 18° C. to 22° C. at night No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘BBERO13-0’ -   Age of plant described: Approximately 9 months. -   Container size of plant described: 10 inch basket.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative cuttings. -   Time to roots: About 20 days at approximately 20° C. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner: About 30 to 35 days at     approximately 20-22° C. -   Root description: Moderately dense, moderately branched, fine,     fibrous, not fleshy, colored near RHS Grey 201C

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding, fleshy annual. -   Pot size of plant described: 10 inch. -   Height: Approximately 28 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 95 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Branching characteristics: Free branching with numerous lateral     branches occurring from multiple basal branches. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 32 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: More than 50 -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Round in cross section.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 166C, and Yellow-Green 152B,             both colors present separately.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong, fleshy, non-brittle. -   Internode length: Approximately 1.5 cm on average. Nodes colored     near RHS Green 143C.

FOLIAGE

-   -   -   Orientation.—Outwardly facing foliage. Varies between 45°             from stem to 105° angle from stem. Curved peduncle.         -   Strength.—Very strong, resists breakage.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Glossy.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 24 per primary lateral branch.         -   Average length.—Approximately 6.8 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate, asymmetrical.         -   Margin.—Dentate, and occasionally double dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Aspect.—Flat, to slightly recurved. Curve occurring more             towards apex.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A, but,             darker. Margin near Red-Purple 60A. Young foliage under             side: Near RHS Green 138B with strong flush near Red-Purple             60A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green             137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Red 45C. Texture: Very slight             pubescence.         -   Stipule description.—Irregularly present, occurring in 1 or             2 per node, non-fleshy, becoming completely papery before             leaves fully expand. Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D with             slight flush near Red-Purple 60A. Texture: Glabrous.

Flower

-   Flowering habit: Continuously flowering during Spring and Summer. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single, outwardly facing     flowers arranged in axillary cymes. Cymes held above foliage,     approximately 3 open flowers per cyme. -   Cyme size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 5.0 cm. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 10 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Flattened oval.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red 45C, margins near Red 39A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 2.5 cm. -   Tepals:     -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 4 fully expanded, 2 highly reduced             in size also occurring in mature flowers.         -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Broad deltoid.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Flat to very slight upward curve.         -   Texture, upper surfaces.—Shiny.         -   Texture, lower surfaces.—Matte.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red 45C. When             opening, lower surface: Near RHS Red 45D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Near RHS Red 44D. Fully opened, lower             surface: Near RHS Red 43D. Aging color: Upper: Near RHS Red             43C, lower, Red 43D. -   Flower bracts:     -   -   Quantity.—Irregularly occurring 2 per cyme, or less             frequently 2 per flower.         -   Shape.—Broad deltoid.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire, slightly dentate near apex.         -   Texture.—Very slightly pubescent.         -   Aspect.—Slightly rolled inward.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red 43B. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch. Pendulous.         -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 153B with strong flush near Red             45B. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—About 15° to the peduncle. Pendulous.         -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red 41B.         -   Fragrance.—Faint.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 15. -   Anthers:     -   -   Description.—Spatulate.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 13B.         -   Pollen.—Not observed. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow             3C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Columnar. Color: Near RHS Yellow 1D. Ovary             Color: Near RHS Yellow 4D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits:     -   -   Fruit.—Description: Winged capsule. Wing Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Overall Fruit Length: Approximately             1.7 cm. Overall Fruit Diameter: Approximately 0.6 cm. Color:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Seed production.—Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures from     approximately 5° to 25° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘BBERO13-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 